Case study: Freshfields is ready for emergencies

With over 2,500 lawyers in 27 cities around the world, law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer must be prepared for all eventualities.

The company, which has a Tokyo office, has a clear disaster recovery plan. Kevin Hogarth, global HR director, says: “Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our people is our primary concern. Minimising the impact of any incident on our clients and resuming business as usual as quickly as possible is also a key priority.”

In an emergency, the firm’s first priority is to locate staff and ensure they are safe. It has an emergency information telephone line and provides live updates on its website.

Once the scale of the incident is known, it sets up alternative working arrangements if needed, such as working from home or at a client’s premises.

The firm’s London office has an employee assistance programme that offers 24-hour support. It also offers staff private medical insurance.